Practice Emphasis
Thomas J. Gilbert has been licensed to practice law since 1974. For over 25 years, he has focused his practice in the area of municipal law with the representation of numerous fire protection districts. Mr. Gilbert has handled numerous real estate transactions, both residential and commercial. Mr. Gilbert also has an extensive litigation practice, including complex commercial litigation, and has tried a number of cases to successful jury verdicts. He has appeared before Illinois trial courts, state appellate courts, and the Illinois Supreme Court.
Publications and Presentations
Mr. Gilbert frequently lectures on issues pertaining to fire service law and taught fire science law at Joliet Junior College.
Community Service Activities
Mr. Gilbert is the Past President of the Will County Bar Association. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the Will County Legal Assistance Program.
Professional Background
After serving as a clerk to labor arbitrator Albert A. Epstein, Mr. Gilbert began practicing law in Joliet with William R. Penn, a former full Circuit Court Judge of the 12th Judicial Circuit. From 1984 to 1995, he was a partner with the firm of Gilbert and Schoenstedt, which became Gilbert, Mason and Schoenstedt in 1995 and dissolved in 2001 when Richard C. Schoenstedt was appointed to the position of Associate Judge. In 2002, Mr. Gilbert joined Ottosen Britz Kelly Cooper & Gilbert, Ltd.
Mr. Gilbert holds the highest peer review rating, “AV,” from Lexis-Nexis Martindale-Hubbell, a nationwide legal directory.
